Watertight watchcase

ABSTRACT

A waterproof watchcase having a watch crystal sealed with a bezel circumferentially thereof. The seal is effected by a sealing ring, made of an elastic material, without use of adhesives. The sealing ring has a body provided with a first circumferential annular flange on one side of the body and on an opposite side, in a plane offset from the plane within which the first flange lies, is disposed a second annular flange integral with the body. The bezel compresses the first annular flange between it and the periphery of the watch crystal effecting a waterproof seal therebetween. A tension ring is disposed internally of the second flange and cooperates with a watchcase band externally thereof for compressing the second annular flange therebetween and effecting a watertight seal. The back of the watchcase is closed by a back cover and a gasket cooperative with the watchcase band in effecting a water-tight seal so that the watch is completely waterproof.

United States Patent r191 Nozawa et al.

[ Aug. 13, 1974 WATERTIGHT WATCHCASE [75] Inventors: Hideo Nozawa, Tokyo; Masayoshi Aoki', Funabashi; Shoji Isono, Tokyo, all of Japan [73] Assignee: KabushikiKaisha Daini Seikosha,

Tokyo, Japan [22] Filed: Dec. 14, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 424,890 [30] Foreign Application Priority Data Dec. 18,1972 Japan 47-145337 [52] US. Cl 58/90 R [51] Int. Cl. G04b 37/08 [58] Field of Search 58/90 R [56] References Cited I UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,479,771 ll/l969 Steimann 58/90 R 3,643,424 2/1972 Simon 58/90 R FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 447,373 3/l944 Canada 58/90 R Primary Examiner-George H. Miller, Jr. Attorney, Agent, or Firm--Robert E. Burns; Emmanuel J. Lobato; Bruce L. Adams [57] ABSTRACT A waterproof watchcase having a watch crystal sealed with a bezel circumferentially'thereof. The seal is effected by a sealing ring, made of an elastic material, without use of adhesives. The sealing ring has a body provided with a first circumferential annular flange on one side of the body and on an opposite side, in a plane offset from the plane within which the first flange lies, is disposed a second annular flange integral with the body. The bezel compresses the first annular flange between it and the periphery of the watch crystal effecting a waterproof seal therebetween. A tension ring is disposed internally of the second flange and cooperates with a watchcase band externally thereof for compressing the second annular flange therebetween and effecting a watertight seal. The

back of the watchcase is closed by a back cover and a gasket cooperative with the watchcase band in effecting a water-tight seal so that the watch is completely waterproof.

7 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to watches and more particularly to improved waterproof watchcases.

Conventional waterproof watchcases having watch crystals made from inorganic material have the defect that the water tightness and adhesive intensity between the crystal and bezel adhered thereto depends principally on the processing conditions of the bezel or on the drying conditions of the adhesive. In this type of structure the bezel either has a swell or warp developed therein, by punching or pressing, or has roughened surfaces for effecting a seal between it and the watch crystal. Moreover, the bezel must be made or finished with high accuracy so that costs are increased and productivity is likewise reduced. Furthermore, manufacturing costs are increased by the necessity of applying an adhesive and controlling its drying conditions. The use of adhesives requires that the volume of adhesive be well controlled and in the event of excess use of adhesive, the removal thereof becomes necessary.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is a principal object of the present invention to avoid the above-mentioned drawbacks in. the manufacture and production of waterproof watchcases.

Another object of the invention is to provide a watertight watchcase which is made water-tight without use of an adhesive agent.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a waterproof or water-tight watchcase having a bezel which is formed with a narrow surface for effecting seals in conjunction with a sealing ring according to the invention.

Another object is to provide a new and improved water-proof watch construction and sealing ring.

A waterproof watchcase according to the invention comprises a watch crystal made of inorganic material. A sealing ring made of an elastic material is provided and has an annular body supporting a marginal-circumferential portion of the watch crystal. The sealing ring has a first annular flange circumferentially of the watch crystal and a second annular flange integral with the body, provided on an opposite side of the body. A bezel compresses the first annular flange between it and the periphery of the watch crystal to effect a water-tight seal. A tension ring is disposed internally of the second flange and a watchcase band externally thereof compresses the second annular flange of the sealing ring between it of the tension ring to effect a water-tight seal. The back of the watchcase is closed by a back cover and the watch is water-tightly sealed without use of adhesives.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Other objects and advantages of the waterproof watchcase in accordance with the invention will appear from the following description of an example of the invention, and the novel features will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims and drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary cross-section view of a first embodiment of a waterproof watchcase in accordance with the invention; v

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view of a second embodiment of a waterproof watchcase according to the invention; and

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary cross-section view of a third embodiment of the waterproof watchcase according to the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A first embodiment of a watch according to the invention is illustrated in FIG. I in which a sealing ring 1 made of a highly elastic material, for example synthetic rubber, has a shoulder 1a on which is seated a watch crystal 2 made, for example, of inorganic mate rial. The sealing ring 1 has a body portion provided with anannular flange 1b that is disposed circumferentially of the watch crystal and is compressed between the watch crystal and the bezel. The bezel has a narrow flat annular surface circumferentially of the first annular flange. A waterproof seal is effectively made by the three members without the use of an adhesive.

The sealing ring body has a second annular flange 1c that defines an annular outer circumferential shoulder 1d on which the bezel ring is seated. The second annular flange is in a plane offset, in cross section, from a plane passing through the first annular flange.

A tension ring 4 is disposed internally of the second annular flange. A watchcase band 5 is.disposed externally of the second annular flange and it and the tension ring jointly compress the second annular flange to effect a water-tight seal therebetween. The watchcase band is provided with a conventionally known winding stem as illustrated.

The back of the watch is closed by. a back cover 6 effecting a seal with a gasket 7 which is resilient and is housed in an annular shoulder in the watchcase band 5 as illustrated. Watchworks 8 are disposed interiorly of the watch in known manner.

In assemblying the water-tight watchcase, the tension ring 4 is fitted against the inner periphery of the lower or second peripheral flange 1c of the sealing ring 1. The second flange is then inserted into the watchcase band 5 to an extent such that it is held between the tension ring 4 and the watchcase band 5 in a compressed manner.

The watch crystal 2 is then supported against the bearing surface la of the sealing ring 1 with the rim or periphery of the crystal 2 against the inner periphery of the upper or first annular flange lb. The bezel 3 is then urged around'the outer periphery of the upper or first annular flange 1b of the sealing ring to an extent that it is pressed against the shoulder portion 1d of the sealing ring so that the first annular flange is clamped between the bezel 3 and the rim of the watch crystal 2 in a compressed manner with the glass fixed thereto. As a matter of course, a watch movement 8 is housed in the watchcase band 5 in conjunction with an intermediate case ring as the case may be. The watch is then closed by the back cover 6.

A second embodiment is illustrated in FIG. 2. In this embodiment the parts, l'8, corresponding to those of the first embodiment have the same reference numerals and are primed as can be seen. In this construction, a sealing ring 1' is constructed generally with the same overall cross-section configuration of the sealing ring 1 in the first embodiment except that the body portion is smaller. The tension ring 4' is constructed of two ring portions or flanges circumferentially offset from each other and joined by a connecting part so that the ring is configured to correspond to the inner surface of the sealing ring body and second annular flange 1d thereof. The first ring portion is disposed internally of the second annular flange 1c and the connecting part between fits into a shoulder formed by the sealing ring body 1'. In this instance, the sealing ring is supported throughout its inner surfaces by the tension ring and the periphery of the watch crystal 2.

The assembly of the second embodiment is carried out similarly to the assembly of the first embodiment described above.

A third embodiment of a waterproof watchcase according to the invention, is illustrated in FIG. 3. In this construction, a sealing ring 31 is provided with an internal shoulder or bearing surface 3111 on which is seated a watch crystal 32, made for example of inorganic material. The sealing ring 31 has a body provided with a first annular flange 31b that is compressed between the rim of the watch crystal and a bezel 33 as illustrated. The sealing ring has a second annular flange 31c which in this instance is offset inwardly'of the other flange as illustrated. The bezel has a shoulder 33a that fits into a shoulder 3le of the sealing ring and further assists in sealing thereof.

A tension ring 34 is disposed inwardly of the second annular flange 31c and cooperates with a watchcase band 35 in compressing the second flange in developing a fluid-tight seal therewith. All of the sealing in this instance is accomplished without the use of adhesives as before described. The watchcase band isprovided with an integral back 32 as illustrated and watchworks 38 are housed within the watchcase as illustrated.

The third embodiment of the watchcase, according to the invention, is assembled by fitting the tension ring 34 to the inner periphery of the inner or second annular flange 1c of the sealing ring 1 in the same manner as before described. The watch crystal 2 is mounted on the bearing surface 31a of the sealing ring and the bezel ring 33 is pressed into position against the sealing ring 1 to an extent that the peripheral ring shoulder 3le fits into the corresponding shoulder 33a of the bezel as illustrated. It should be appreciated that the outer or first flange 31d of the sealing ring is tightly clamped between the bezel 33 and the rim of the watch crystal 32 so that the watch crystal is fixed due to the circumferential pressure thereon and the fluid-tight seal is effected without use of adhesives.

The inner flange 310 of the sealing ring is then thrust into the watchcase band 35 and fixed between the tension ring 34 of the watchcase band 35 The water-tight watchcase according to the invention has the advantage that it may be disassembled in a short time since the bezel 33, after being separated from the watchcase band 35, can be raised together with the sealing ring 31 because of the flange 33a which is disposed in cooperative relationship with the shoulder 31e of the sealing ring. The ease of assembly and disassembly makes it easy to maintain the watch subsequent to sale thereof. The sealing ring can be mass produced by molding thereof. This improves the freedom of the sealing rings from irregularities and stabilizes the quality. Furthermore, costs are accordingly reduced.

What 1 claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A waterproof watchcase comprising, a watch crystal, a sealing ring made of an elastic material and effecting waterproof seals without use .of adhesives and having an annular body supporting a marginal circumferential portion of said watch crystal, said sealing ring having a first annular'flange circumferentially of the watch crystal, said sealing ring having a second annular flange integral with said body, a bezel compressing the first annular flange between it and the periphery of the watch crystal, a tension ring disposed internally of said second flange and a watchcase band externally, circumferentially thereof both compressing the second annular flange therebetween, and means closing the back of the watchcase, whereby said sealing ring seals watertightly without use of adhesives with each of said watch crystal, said bezel, said tension ring, .and said watchcase band.

2. A waterproof watchcase-according to claim 1, in which said first annular flange and said second annular flange are disposed in two offset planes in a cross section of said sealing ring.

3. A waterproof watchcase according to claim 1, in which said tension ring is configured in cross section to contact the inner surface of said body and said second annular flange.

4. A waterproof watchcase according to claim 1, in which said sealing ring comprises synthetic rubber.

5. A waterproof watchcase according to claim 1, in which said sealing ring has outer peripheral surfaces defining a shoulder and in which said bezel comprises inner peripheral surfaces defining a shoulder complementary to said shoulder of said sealing ring.

6. A waterproof watchcase accoring to claim 1, in which said second annular flange defines an outer peripheral shoulder on said sealing ring, and in which said bezel comprises an annular rim surface seated on said peripheral shoulder of said sealing ring.

7. A waterproof watchcase according to claim 6, in which said bezel comprises an outer peripheral tapered, surface converging towardsaid peripheral shoulder, and in which said watchcase band comprises a beveled surface diverging away from said peripheral shoulder and from said tapered surface of said bezel. 

1. A waterproof watchcase comprising, a watch crystal, a sealing ring made of an elastic material and effecting waterproof seals without use of adhesives and having an annular body supporting a marginal circumferential portion of said watch crystal, said sealing ring having a first annular flange circumferentially of the watch crystal, said sealing ring having a second annular flange integral with said body, a bezel compressing the first annular flange between it and the periphery of the watCh crystal, a tension ring disposed internally of said second flange and a watchcase band externally, circumferentially thereof both compressing the second annular flange therebetween, and means closing the back of the watchcase, whereby said sealing ring seals watertightly without use of adhesives with each of said watch crystal, said bezel, said tension ring, and said watchcase band.
 2. A waterproof watchcase according to claim 1, in which said first annular flange and said second annular flange are disposed in two offset planes in a cross section of said sealing ring.
 3. A waterproof watchcase according to claim 1, in which said tension ring is configured in cross section to contact the inner surface of said body and said second annular flange.
 4. A waterproof watchcase according to claim 1, in which said sealing ring comprises synthetic rubber.
 5. A waterproof watchcase according to claim 1, in which said sealing ring has outer peripheral surfaces defining a shoulder and in which said bezel comprises inner peripheral surfaces defining a shoulder complementary to said shoulder of said sealing ring.
 6. A waterproof watchcase accoring to claim 1, in which said second annular flange defines an outer peripheral shoulder on said sealing ring, and in which said bezel comprises an annular rim surface seated on said peripheral shoulder of said sealing ring.
 7. A waterproof watchcase according to claim 6, in which said bezel comprises an outer peripheral tapered surface converging toward said peripheral shoulder, and in which said watchcase band comprises a beveled surface diverging away from said peripheral shoulder and from said tapered surface of said bezel. 